Means for mixing



Dec. 10, 1935. E. e. MYERS MEANS FOR MIXING Filed Sept. 12, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 10, 1935. I E. G. MYERS 2,023,644

\ MEANS FOR MIXING Filed Sept. 12,1933 s Sheets- Sheet 2 Dec. 10, 1935-E MYERS 2,023,644

MEANS FOR MIXING Filed Sept. 12, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 10,1935 UNITED STATES MEANS FOR MIXING Elias G. Myers, Toledo, Ohio,assignor to The Myers-Sherman Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation ofOhio Application September 12, 1933, Serial No. 689,108

3 Claims.

My invention relates in general to mixing apparatus and methods, and hasmore particular reference to means for and methods of mixing feeds moreespecially the mixing of liquid food ingredients with subdivided solidfoodstuffs.

My invention specifically contemplates the provision of a new mode ofmixing molasses or other liquid with subdivided edible materials such asground grain, hay, alfalfa, beans and other vegetable matter such as isor may be used as ingredients in mixed feeds.

Another object is to provide for mixing the liquid ingredient byinjecting it under pressure into a stream of the ground material,preferably as delivered from the grinder.

Another object is to provide for controlling the amount of liquid mixedwith the ground material.

Another object is to provide for mixing the liquid ingredient uniformlyand evenly with the ground material and to carry out the mixing as acontinuous process.

Another object is to provide for mixing a plurality of different solidfood materials in order to produce the ground material with which themolasses is mixed as a continuous process and for adjustably controllingthe quantities of the mveral ingredients entering the mixture of groundmaterials.

Another object is to provide a mobile mixing device of the class, upon atruck, preferably a truck having an engine and additionally to utilizethe heat generated by the operation of the engine to maintain the liquidingredient used in the mixing device in a desired state of fluidity formxing purposes.

Another object is to provide a food-mixing apparatus of the classdescribed driven by a watercooled engine and to utilize the circulatingWater to heat the liquid food ingredient in a proper fluid state foruse.

Among the other objects and advantages is to inject the liquidingredient under pressure into the subdivided solid material; tomaintain a slight vacuum at the place where the liquid is mixed with thesubdivided solid material; to utilize a fan or blower as the mixingdevice; to introduce a liquid spray into a blower through which thesubdivided solid material is being forced so that the actual mixingoccurs within the blower casing; and in general to provide a compact,mobile mixing apparatus having the numerous advantages hereinafterspecified.

Numerous other objects of the invention will become apparent as the sameis more fully understood-from the following description, which,

taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses apreferred embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a mobile 6 truck carrying mixingapparatus embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation of the mixing apparatus;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a view showing the pipe arrangement at the back of the truckfor delivering the v fluid food ingredient to the mixing chamber.

To illustrate my invention, I have shown on 1 the drawings a mixingdevice including a mixing chamber ll through which ground material is ormay be drawn, or otherwise forced, in the form of a continuous stream-bymeans of the blower l3, and thence be delivered to a collector I5through a delivery pipe H.

The mixing chamber, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises apreferably sheet metal casing forming a conduit or chute connected atone end to the outlet of a grinder I9 which, in the illustratedembodiment, is shown as a hammer mill into which grains, corn stalks,hay, and other materials may be delivered through the chute H5. Thematerials introduced into the grinder through the chute I I5 may formthe basic ingredients of a feed mixture to which molasses or other fluidis to be mixed. The outlet end of the conduit ii is connected to theblower I3, which is preferably an air fan connected to create a suctionin the mixing chamber to draw subdivided matter therethrough in acontinuous stream from the grinder. The walls of the mixing chamber areprovided with an opening 23 adjacent the fan and a jet nozzle 25 ismounted opposite the opening in position to spray a fluid, usuallymolasses, 40 through the opening 23 and into the interior of the mixingchamber in contact with the stream of material traveling through themixing chamber under the influence of the suction exerted by the fan i3.It will be noted that the spray is directed toward the inlet of the fan13 and that the actual mixing takes place at least in part within thecasing of the fan. Alternatively, the molasses may be sprayed directlyinto the fan, in which case the mixing takes place entirely within themixing chamber.

It is also within the contemplation of the in- V vention to arrange thenozzle so that all of the mixing takes place within the chamber II. Thestream or cloud of subdivided particles, traveling along in the chamberII and in the fan I3, is in a substantially turbulent condition and Ifind that by spraying the liquid into the turbulent stream, the liquidbeing under substantial pressure as it escapes from the nozzle 25, theliquid becomes thoroughly mixed with the subdividedmaterial to theextent that the material is actually impregnated with the liquid. It isthought that the impregnation of the subdivided material is effected bythe provision of means whereby the fluid is sprayed into the turbulentcloud of subdivided material in the presence of a partial vacuumeffected by the fan I3, and one of the important features of the presentinvention resides in the novel method of thoroughly mixing a liquidingredient with subdivided material by injecting the liquid into thematerial under pres sure and in the presence of a partial vacuum.

It is obvious that the present mixing method maybe accomplished by meansof stationary apparatus. However, for convenience, I prefer to mount thegrinder I 9 and the other associated apparatus on a mobile truck 21,which, in the illustrated embodiment, is shown as an automotive truckprovided with an engine 29, suitable transmission devices, including amanually operable gear shift 3|, being provided for drivingly connectingthe engine 29 with the truck wheels 33 through the intermediary of thetransmission shafts 35. The truck illustrated is of the fourwheel drivetype.

The transmission mechanism also is formed so that by suitablemanipulation of the gear shift 3|, the engine may be disconnected fromthe truck wheels and connected to drive a. power shaft 31, drivinglyconnected through suitable reduction gearing 39 to a shaft 4| on whichthe turnable element of the hammer mill or crusher I 915 drivinglyconnected. The rotatable impeller element of the blower I3 is alsodrivingly connected to the shaft 4| so that the engine 29 may beselectively utilized either to motivate the truck or the mixingapparatus of my present invention which is mounted on the truck.

The truck also carries a reservoir or storage tank 43 for the molassesor other liquid to be mixed with the subdivided materials in the mixingchamber ll. Since molasses is a relatively viscous liquid, especially atrelatively low temperatures, I prefer to provide means for maintainingthe temperature of the molasses stored in the reservoir 43 at or above apredetermined temperature at which the liquid flows freely. For thisreason, I utilize the heat generated by the engine 29 to provide a meansfor maintaining the molasses at a desired temperature.

In the illustrated embodiment, the excess heat developed by the engine29 is absorbed by a cooling medium circulating in a cooling system.Ordinarily I prefer to utilize water or other cooling fluid, which iscirculated through a jacket around the parts of the engine which becomeheated during the operation of the engine and through a radiator 45, thecooling fluid being normally delivered to the engine jacket from thebottom of the reservoir by'means of a pump 41 driven from the engine bymeans of a belt 49 or other suitable power transmission means. Thecooling medium absorbs heat from the engine in passing through thejacket and is delivered into a conduit 5| and passes through a valve 53and a connecting conduit 55 to a preferably helical coil 51 disposed inthe molasses tank 43, the heated medium preferably entering the bottomof the coil and passing upwardly thereof. The

.upper end of the coil is connected by means of a return conduit 59 tothe top of the radiator 45. The radiator 45 also is provided withmanually controllable shutter means 6| in order to regulate thetemperature of the cooling medium. A bypass conduit 63 having a valve 65is also connected directly between the conduit 5| and the conduit 59 sothat the engine cooling medium may be circulated without travelingthrough the molasses heating coil 51 by closing the valve 63 and openingthe valve 65. Means is provided for delivering molasses from thereservoir 43 to the nozzle 25 under pressure in order that the liquidingredient may be delivered into the mixing chamber H as a continuousstream at uniform pressure. To this end, I provide a pump 61 having anintake 69 disposed in the bottom of the reservoir 43, which is providedwith a pocket or sump 11 so that all of the molasses may be drawn fromthe tank through the pump 61 if necessary.

The pump 61 discharges into a conduit 13, which leads through a strainer15, a valve 11, a meter 19 to the nozzle 25, there being a valve 8|immediately in advance of the nozzle in order to control the liquiddelivery of the nozzle. A thermometer or other suitable temperatureindicating device 14 and a pressure gauge 16 are arranged in the pipe 13preferably in advance of the strainer 15 to register the temperature andpressure of the liquid in the delivery system.

The system is also provided with a valved drain outlet 83, which entersthe conduit 13 at approximately the lowest part of the molasses deliverysystem. A by-pass conduit 85, controlled by a valve 81 and a returnconduit 98 controlled I by a valve 9i are also provided to permit themolasses to be circulated through the system, as when the molasses iscold without passing through the meter 19, and without dischargingthrough the nozzle, since it is desirable to cir- 40 culate the molassesfor an interval through the system before starting the mixing operationin order to ensure proper mixing fluidity which may be determined at thedrain outlet 83. Bypass circulation may be accomplished by closing thevalves 11 and 8|, and opening the valves 81 and 9|. A valve 18 also isprovided on the discharge side of the meter 19 to prevent back pressurefrom affecting the same-when the liquid is by-passed as aforesaid. Thereturn conduit 89 controlled by the valve 9! is connected between thepipe 13 on the discharge side of the meter 19 and discharges into theupper portion of the reservoir 43. A spring-actuated relief valve 93also is connected between the conduit 89 and the conduit 13 on thedischarge side of the pump 61 to maintain the molasses in the deliveryline 13 below a predetermined safe operating maximum. When the system isin normal operation with valves 11, 18, and 8| open and valve 81 closed,the valve 91 may be opened to any desired degree to regulate thepressure of the molasses at the nozzle and to return to the reservoirthe excess molasses not needed to maintain the desired nozzle pressure.A valve 92 also is interposed directly between the return pipe 89 andthe delivery line 13, in advance of the thermometer, pressure gauge,strainer and to the engine-driven shaft 31 through the reduction gearing39. The pulley 95 is drivingly connected as by means of the belt orchain 99 to a counter-shaft Illl provided with a pulley I03, which isbelted to drive the motor 61.

In order to maintain the molasses in a substantially fluid condition inthe pump and the delivery and return pipes, I prefer to enclose the pumprelief valve and portions of the pipes I3 and 89 in a heat conservinghousing 94, which, at its lower end, is in communication with a coil 96formed in the return pipe 59 of the molasses heating system. Even afterthe circulating medium of the molasses-heating system has passed out ofthe coil 51, the medium contains considerable heat which is delivered bythe coil 96 into the housing 9 3 and serves to maintain the enclosedparts in substantially warm condition. The elongated lengths of pipes I3and 89 extending between the housing 94 and the truck panel on which thestrainer 15 and meter I9 are mounted, also may be enclosed in a housing98 which communicates with the housing 94 and serves to maintain thesaid pipe lengths in substantially warm condition.

It will be noted that the strainer I5 and the meier l9, and also thevarious control valves 11, 8!, 93, 81, and 9t are all carried on aframework at the rear of the truck to facilitate manipulation of the valves,the reading of the thermometer, pressure gauge and meter, and theservicing of the strainer 75. The several elements of the apparatus alsoaredisposed in a most convenient position on the truck, the molassesreservoir 43 being disposed immediately behind the drivers cab at theapproximate center of gravity of the truck so that the molasses rideseasily and the reservoir is subjected to a minimum amount of jar andstress while the truck is in transit. The grinding device is mounted onthe truck behind the reservoir 43 in a readily accessible position sethat by removing the cover 2| all of the parts of the grinding mechanismare exposed. The collective device I5 also is mounted on the truck atthe rear thereof adjacent the meter and valves for controlling thedelivery of the molasses. p

The collector l5 comprises preferably a sheet metal tank, into the upperend of which is delivered the mixed feed. The lower end of the collectoris formed as a substantially inverted cone, the lower end of which coneis provided with a discharge nozzle onto which a bag or other containerfor mixed feed may be attached, the discharge nozzle being provided witha shutter for controlling the flow of mixed feed from the container t5into the bag.

The pump 67 has a capacity sufiicient to deliver molasses into theconduit '13 at a pressure somewhat higher than that at which the reliefvalve 93 is set to operate. The relief valve, however, insures that apredetermined maximum safe pressure of the molasses in the conduit 13 isnot exceeded. The molasses is delivered under pressure through the pipeI3, the strainer I5, and the meter I9 to the nozzle, the valves I1 andI8 being open and the valves 81 and 83 being closed. By manipulating thevalves 9| and 92, a part of the liquid molasses discharged from themeter I9 may be returned back to the reservoir in order to regulate theamount of molasses delivered to the nozzle and alsoto accomplish acontrol of the delivery pressure of the molasses supplied tothe nozzle.

A further control of the molasses actually elected at the nozzle may beaccomplished by means of the valve 8!. If, for any reason, the groundmaterial delivered by the grinder through the mixing chamber II and theblower I3 should fail, the operator may immediately close the 5 pump 89.

By closing valves 1'! and I8 and valve 8|, and opening valve 81,circulation of the liquid may be had in the system without passing themeter. This is desirable, when the system is being placed in operationin cold weather when the molasses, 15

standing in the exposed pipes, may be too viscous to immediately passthrough the meter and nozzle. A few minutes of circulation through thewarm tank 43 will make the molasses sufiiciently fluid for use. It is,of course, entirely practical to operate my mixing device withoutemploying a grinder I9 by previously grinding the solid ingredients toproper size and introducing them into the mixing chamber. However, Iprefer to employ a grinder not only to insure that the ground materialis delivered at a uniform rate into themixing chamber but also to permitunground materials to be dumped into the mixing machine, and I providemeans operatively associated with the grinder whereby various solidingredients may be loaded into bins and delivered in mixed conditioninto the grinder so that any desired formula employing desired mixturesof ground materials may be produced by the grinding apparatus. To thisend, I provide a plurality of bins I05, which may Cali 'be convenientlymounted on the frame of the truck on one side while a corn sheller III!is mounted on the truck frame on the other side of the truck. Each ofthe bins I35 may contain 40 a desired supplemental food ingredient, suchas dry buttermilk, alfalfa, phosphorus, charcoal, bone meal, and otheringredients in ground condition and measured quantities of eachingredient may be released from each bin into a chute I99,-

which discharges into a worm conveyor III, the worm of which is drivenby the control shaft IIlI heretofore mentioned. The conveyor HI operatesnot only to convey the supplemental ingredients, delivered from the'binsN15, to the grinder, but also serves to thoroughly mix the ingredientstogether. The conveyor HI discharges into a chute I I3 which deliversthe mixed ingredients either directly into the grinder or into the chuteH5 which leads to the grinder. In any event, the supplementalingredients are mixed with the principal ingredients, introduceddirectly into the chute I I5, as all of the solid ingredients are fed tothe grinder. If desired, a supplemental supply of cod liver oil orsimilar ingredient to be mixed, in minimal quantities, may be added tothe dry ingredients from a drip reservoir H6 mounted on the grindercasing.

The corn sheller I0! is a device of known construction comprisingmechanism for receiving corn on the cob and removing the kernels ofgrain.

The sheller comprises a chute II'I into which the material to be treatedis dumped, the chute leading toa casing H9 containing the beaters 7which perform the shelling operation. The heaters are driven by a shaftH9, which is drivingly connected by means of the chain or belt I2I to adriving pulley I23 on the shaft 91. The sheller also incorporates a wormconveyor I25 into which the shelled grain is delivered at the bottom ofthe casing H6. The worm of the conveyor is drivingly connected to theshaft 9 by means of the belt I21 and serves to deliver the shelledmaterial into a chute I29 discharging into the grinder.

Among the numerous advantages of my present mixing apparatus is theunusually thorough mixing of the liquid and subdivided solid foodingredients, which is accomplished by spraying the liquid ingredientinto a turbulent cloud of the subdivided solid ingredients.

Another advantage resides in the neat and compact arrangement of theparts upon the truck whereby the grinding device is rendered mobile andcapable of traveling to the most convenient place for carrying out thegrinding'and mixing operation.

Anotheradvantage resides in having the devices for controlling therelative quantity of the auxiltinuous operation which is a distinctadvantage I,

over methods involving the mixing of the ingredients in batches so thatthe relative proportion of the various ingredients; unless veryaccurately controlled, is different in every batch mixed.

Another feature resides in utilizingthe heat generated by the powerplant of the truck directly for maintaining the molasses in a suitablefluid condition. l

It is thought that the invention and numerous of its attendantadvantages will be understood from the foregoing description and it isobvious that numerous changes maybe made in the form, construction, andarrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit orscope of my invention, or sacrificing any of its attendant advantages,the form herein described being a preferred embodiment for the purposeof illustrating my invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. Mixing apparatus comprising means forming a conduit, means to delivera cloud of subdivided material through the conduit, pressure spray meanslocated entirely outside of the conduit and adapted to deliver a liquidspray into the conduit through an opening therein in position to mixwith and impregnate the subdivided material, said conduit having awbendand being of 10 substantially uniform cross section at said bend, andsaid spray means and conduit opening being located at said bend andpositioned to direct the liquid spray longitudinally through a portionof-the conduit extending beyond said bend.

2. Mixing apparatus comprising a centrifugal blower having an inclosingcasing and a rotor, an inclosed inlet conduit terminating in a portionsubstantially coaxial with the rotor axis, means for deliveringsubdivided material through the inlet conduit, pressure spray means forintroducing a liquid spray into the material, said spray means 'beingpositioned to direct the spray into the conduit coaxially of theterminal portion directly toward the rotor at the center whereby tointro- .duce the liquid into the subdivided material at a point ofmaximum vacuum and turbulence, and an exhaust passageway leadingperipherally from the blower casing. i

3. Mixing apparatus comprising a centrifugal blower having an inclosingcasing and a rotor, an inclosed inlet conduit leading to the blower,said conduit having a bend adjacent its delivery end terminating in aportion coaxial with the rotor axis, means for delivering subdividedmaterial through the inlet conduit, pressure spray means for introducinga liquid spray into the material, said spray means being positionedoutside of the conduit at the conduit bend and arranged to direct thespray through an opening in the conduit coaxially of the conduitterminal portion directly toward the rotor at the center, whereby tointroduce the liquid uniformly into the subdivided material at a pointof maximum vacuum and turbulence, and an exhaust passageway leadingperiphi5

